Latinos majority of students in state schools | percent, students, state - News - The Orange County Register

Latinos majority of students in state schools | percent, students, state - News - The Orange County Register

Latinos now majority in state schools

By FERMIN LEAL

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Latinos now make up the majority of students in California public schools, according to new figures released by the state Department of Education.

More than 50 percent of all 6.2 million students enrolled in the state's k-12 schools in 2009-10 were Latinos. It's the first time ever the group made up the majority of state public school enrollment.

Armando Gutierrez, assistant principal at Heninger Elementary School in Santa Ana, the district locally with the highest number of Latino students, looks over students as they stand in their lines before heading back to class after in this file photo. Latinos in the state now make up the majority of students in California.

MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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In Orange County, about 47 percent of 502,275 students were Latino, while 32 percent were white, 14 percent were Asian and 2 percent were black.

Statewide, 27 percent of students were identified as white, 9 percent were black and 6.9 percent were Asian.

Click here to see data on each O.C. school district, the county total and the state total.

In 2008-09, 49 percent of students statewide were Latino, 28 percent of students were white, 7 percent were black and 8 percent were Asian. Locally last year, 45 percent of students were